Bradley Manning is a pathetic little 'man,' who is currently facing a military court for releasing secrets - intelligence material - to those who wish harm to Americans and their interests. Really, he is pathetic! I don't care how 'special' his supporters claim him to be - and how ironic that one of his supporters who proudly holds a placard 'I am Bradley Manning' is female - or at least I think she is! Gender confusion, anyone? At the heart of Manning's current defence is the claim that because he is gay, and in the military, he was under enormous pressure, and was distressed, emotionally fragile. Blah blah blah....
Much is being written about Manning, and clear lines are being drawn between those who hail this US Serviceman as a hero, and excuse his behaviour on the grounds he had a crappy childhood, and is gay *gasp*, and those of us who know him for what he is: a traitor, plain and simple, who worked in Intelligence, and decided that he was smart enough to decide what secrets should be shared with the world.
I am no psychologist (although I did crack a few psych text books in my undergrad days) but frankly? I don't CARE if Manning had a less than ideal childhood. It matters not one whit to me that he is gay. I am totally unimpressed that apparently the Military thought he was smart enough to work in Army Intelligence.
Really??? To me, Manning is a stooopid traitor, and deserves to answer - and pay - for his actions. Period.
He IS a traitor, since he deliberately CHOSE to violate his oath to protect America from all 'enemies foreign and domestic.' By his choices, I believe Manning IS a domestic enemy of the USA. He is also an arrogant tool, since he chose what documents he would give over to Assange - another *cough" freedom fighter for truth. By his actions, Manning is saying that he is smarter than his bosses, and that HE is more qualified to say what the world needs to know.
One of the columns out there about Manning is written by War On Terror News, who, as always, addresses Manning's behaviour dispassionately, clinicly. You know, based on the FACTS:
What follows is a historical look at what motivates a person to spy and betray their country. It IS a must read here.12/20/2011
Bradley Manning: Sex, Lies, & Espionage
So, Bradley Manning's excuse for betraying Our Nation is he's gay:
"The defense revealed that Manning had written to one of his supervisors in Baghdad before his arrest, saying he was suffering from gender-identity disorder. He included a picture of himself dressed as a woman and talked about how it was affecting his ability to do his job and even think clearly."1
In 1992, he would have been asked by recruiters prior to enlistment if he were or ever had been homosexual. He would have been asked by Security Clearance investigators the same question. It would have disqualified him for a clearance and entry into the military.
In 2002, he would not have been asked, but had he told, he would have been removed from the military. In 2009 & 2010, when he told that he was homosexual, he was supposed to have been removed from the military. The picture above comes from Manning's FB page and was posted prior to his arrest. His defense for his crimes is that his homosexuality drove him to commit espionage. His spymaster's (Julian Assange) defense against sexual assault charges is that his homosexuality prevents him from having (wanted to have) assaulted those women.
Manning's defense specifically asked the investigators if they had looked for the gay defense evidence.
"We already knew before we arrived that Pfc. Manning was a homosexual," Special Agent Toni Graham said...
Not everybody watching and writing about Manning is taking his claims of 'poor me' seriously. Susan Katz Keating has this:
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Bradley Manning International "Chew Your Food" Day... I Think...
Today is International Bradley Manning Solid Food Vigil Day. Or something. I guess that means no Gerber allowed. No, not that one; this one! Or is it the other way around? In any case.... Be sure to chew your food 20 times for Bradley. And is it me, or... do those orange signs look an awful lot like radioactive warning stickers?
Be sure to go read the comments over there.
One of those comments has this (in part)
Manning disobeyed orders and transmitted secure documents to a foreign national. Being gay is not excuse. Showing the world that war is horrific is not a reason to disobey orders. Manning was over 21 and knew right from wrong...
That right there is all I needed to know from day one, and no matter how his 'handlers' or supporters choose to spin his treason, Bradley Manning is NOT a hero. He IS a traitor who deserves the harshest penalties.
This Ain't Hell also addresses the confusion about Manning's actions. (Hint: One of the lines his defense team, so far, is trying on: "Wasn't him"!!!) Worth a read, and again the comments are enlightening.
Another of the assinine and patently disingenuous defence claims of Manning's indefensible actions is that 'no harm was done and the information might as well be public.' Again, really? Who the hell is Manning to make those decisions? And how can we REALLY know what harm was done by releasing what should have remained secret? Again, Manning's arrogance is mindboggling, and I suspect that the fallout from his choices will reverberate for a long time.
That 'no harm was done' line was reported in the Taipei Times, among many other salivating msm, which I suppose could add some validity to the 'international spy of mystery' that is movies and pop culture. But this is not a movie, and real life actions have real life consequences.
Yes, Manning is getting international exposure, and yes, he has the usual American moonbats calling "Free Bradley Manning."
But in truth, he is a lousy spy, and there is NO mystery at all about Manning: He IS a pathetic traitor, who should never have been given any level of Intelligence clearing (Due diligence, US Army?) He is also a disgrace to all the honourable Military Servicemembers who daily honour their solemn oath to protect America from all 'enemies foreign and domestic.'
Manning consciously chose to act as he did. Nobody else. He is no movie character (although some would say he is a caricature.) He is no super spy, and this betrayal of his country's secrets does not make Manning a movie star - although we can be sure a movie will be made eventually of his *cough* 'heroism. Before that happens, it is time for him to 'man up' and accept the responsibility - and the consequences - of his treasonous behaviour.
Do they still hang traitors in America?